Marie Michael Library

Creating sustainable prosperity in the United States: The need for innovation and leadership

Gardner, Gary

Environmental degradation and resource depletion may threaten the ability of the U.S. economy to generate wealth for the future.  It remains to be seen whether the United States builds sustainable prosperity through choices now or descends into poverty because it failed to protect its assets when it had the choice. In an analysis of sustainability, the United States is ranked low.  The U.S. demand for fossil fuels and disregard for renewable resources contributes to this fact.  Creating a sustainable U.S. economy will require a well-organized set of national, state and local policies that redesign the economic outlook under a new set of principles.